perms

Lasting hair waves

Perms is the plural of perm, a hairstyle created by chemically treating hair to hold curls or waves permanently—or at least until the hair grows out: She got perms throughout the eighties.

The word is short for permanent wave.

In computing and gaming contexts, perms is short for permissions: You need admin perms to access that folder.

hairstyle

salon

Grooming establishment or gathering

waves · rollers · chemical · treatment · ammonia · neutralizer · volume · body · texture · frizz

computing

permissions

Official allowances granted

rights · read · write · execute · modify · configure · grant · restrict · roles · admin

Categories
Opposites
hair treatment permanence

permsblowouts

Decisive one-sided wins

heat styling · pin curls · hot rollers · finger waves · braiding

hair texture direction

permsrelaxers

Agents that reduce tension

flat ironing · rebonding

natural vs. chemically altered hair

permsnatural hair

Unchemically treated locks

virgin hair · au naturel

Phrases
Family

permanent, permanently, perm, permeate, impermanent, permanence, impermeable, permed, permeation

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G